by Drew Sera
January 2013
Glancing over the resumes that Colin left in my office last night, I was glad that I didn’t have to attend the interviews. Colin didn’t actually have to attend them either, but he wanted to. He always wanted to. And he always attended them.
“See anyone you like on paper, Anth?” Colin asked me when he walked into my office before lunch.
I shrugged. I wasn’t an interviewer or anyone in Human Resources. I had no idea what to look for in these receptionists. The funny thing was that the receptionist position is actually handled by the building’s staffing agency company; not Everett Gaming. Colin still wanted to attend.
“Why do you have to go to it? You’re adding an afternoon full of boringness,” I said over lunch.
“Anth, it’s my company. I want to attend the interviews and have a say in the hiring process,” Colin said.
I shrugged. It was his decision. And honestly, I thought it was smart of him. I just enjoyed giving him shit about it. Especially since a hiring agency was going to hire someone to be a representation of Everett Gaming on the main floor. At least with Colin going to the interviews, he had some say. I’m sure if he told them that he absolutely didn’t want a particular person that they’d listen to him.
Around late afternoon I strolled into his office to see how the interviews went. I think he was distracted by all the stuff piling up on his desk and was pretty quiet about the interviews.
“No one jumps out at you?” I asked.
He looked up at me and had a funny look in his eyes. It was almost a smile with his eyes. I tilted my head to the side as he sat back in his chair.
“There’s this one girl...” he started.
I raised my eyebrows at him.
“Do tell, Mr. Everett. I’m all ears,” I said, completely interested in this one girl.
I leaned back in my own chair and watched Colin as he talked about the interviews.
“Out of the applicants, three had a lot of experience. Two of them even worked for a few big hotels. The fourth one didn’t have as much experience as the others, but she had a fire in her. This girl, was the one I liked best,” Colin said and handed me the resume.
I had glanced at all the resumes this morning, but this time I paid a little more attention.
“Sydney Burke,” I said out loud and flipped past her cover page.
She was the youngest of the applicants and also the one with the least experience. She was also the one that Colin seems to prefer. So, I joked with him a bit.
“So, you want the staffing place to hire the youngest with the least experience,” I commented as he stared at me. “She hot as fuck? Did you detect a platinum pussy on that one?” I teased.
I knew that Colin had morals and ethics and that he’d never. base anything on looks. But it was fun for me to tease him about this.
“No, not at all.” Colin got up from his desk and walked to his window. “There’s something about her though. This wouldn’t just be a job for her.”
Colin seemed to be deep in thought, so I glanced back down at the resumes. There were four in total. Three of the resumes were in professional portfolios, with a cover page, letters of recommendation, typing speed test results, some even had copies of customer service awards or mentioned awards. They were extremely easy on the eyes on paper. But people can be different on paper.
“What about the others? They have a lot of experience, and a few would already be familiar with the gaming industry. They’d know how to professionally represent Everett Gaming,” I commented.
“Experience isn’t everything, Anth.”
I shut my mouth and thought. He was right. I had no experience in any form of management when he made me CFO. He took a huge gamble on me.
I took another look at the resumes sitting on the desk. Sydney’s was nothing more than a two page resume stapled together in the upper left corner while all the others were in nice portfolios.
It made me think about all the times I tried so hard when I was little to compete and keep up with kids who had normal families or kids with money. My book reports never had the plastic book report covers or folders. Mine were stapled together with construction paper for the cover. I didn’t have fancy mechanical pencils; I had wooden ones that I used until they couldn’t be sharpened anymore. I didn’t have any supplies like the other kids, but I made do with what I had.
I wondered if “this one girl,” was the same.
* * *
I looked up at the sound of a knock on my open door. Colin stood there with someone; I gathered it was the new girl.
“Got a sec?” Colin asked.
I nodded and gestured for them to come in. I stood and walked around to the front of my desk as they walked closer. Sydney was about five feet, five inches and was really skinny.
“Sydney, I’d like you to meet my best friend and the CFO of Everett Gaming, Anthony Graves. Anthony, this is Sydney Burke,” Colin introduced us.
I extended my hand toward her, and she shook it. Like most women’s hands, Sydney’s hand felt small in mine. She looked very nervous, but when she smiled to greet me, it lit up the room. Her blue eyes were easy and comfortable.
“Welcome to the floors of Everett Gaming, Sydney. Let me know if you need anything,” I offered.
“Thank you. It was nice meeting you, Mr. Graves,” she said and left with Colin.
I went back to work while he was out playing host. After Colin was done introducing Sydney to everyone and showing her around, he came back to my office and launched the foam ball at my chest before sitting down.
“So, what’d you think?” he asked as he sat across from me.
“She seems nice,” I replied, not committing one way or another.
“But…” he prompted.
I held my hands up.
“But what?” I asked.
“You were going to add something. I know you, Anth.”
We both laughed, and I set my pen down and leaned back in my chair.
“I think she will be fine representing the company. You made a good decision with her. I like her.”
“She’s a delicate one, isn’t she?” he asked.
I nodded, but found his comment interesting. He’s never made an observatory comment like that about anyone else. Of course, she wasn’t really an employee of Everett Gaming. Sydney was a receptionist employed by the staffing firm in the building, who happens to be assigned to Everett Gaming.
“She’s sweet and smart. She was taking notes about which people were in which departments. Day one and already trying,” Colin said.
I just sat there and listened to my best friend talk extensively and excitedly about the new girl nine floors below in the main reception area. He was right; there must be something special about this girl if she’s already gotten to him. I had a feeling that I’d be hearing daily about her from Colin…and I was looking forward to watching this twenty-something, with next to no experience, unravel the CEO and my best friend.
Epilogue Part I
I jerked awake at the sound of my alarm going off on my phone, but my movement toward the sound was halted.
Chained again.
It was all coming back to me as I slowly sat up, giving my stomach a minute to settle. I think my stomach was ok. The metal cuffs that were around my wrists were warm, but not hot. It was tolerable for now, but I needed to move and get ready for work.
I stretched my foot toward my phone that lay a short distance away, and once it was in my hand, I sent Howard the text.
SB: I’m up. Please tell me where the key is.
While I waited, I checked out a bruise from last night that was already forming on my shoulder. I sighed when my phone chirped with the incoming text.
H: Taped under your barstool bitch.
Taped under my barstool.
I scooted toward the barstool and pulled it close to me with my foot. Sure enough, there was the tiny key that releases my wrists and ankles from the cuffs. I quickly got out of the
cuffs and hurried to the shower. I had thirty-five minutes to get to the bus stop to get to work on time.
“Come on,” I encouraged the water to warm up to at least lukewarm temperatures.
Unable to waste any more time, I got in and quickly, but carefully, washed the memory of my terrible night away. Even though I knew better, I still looked down at the bottom of the shower and watched the blood mix with the water. Ugh. I wasn’t feeling very good at all. I quickly washed my hair and focused on the scent of my shampoo instead of the smell of the blood.
After my hair was dry, I applied my make-up with shaking fingers and then raced to get dressed. The material of my sweater was already bothering my wrists. I went back to the bathroom and found the burn cream and applied it to both wrists and then put the bandages on them. I tugged the sleeves down and tested my limits of lifting or raising my arms. That way I would know how high or far I could reach today before my sleeves raised, exposing the bandages. Confident that I knew my limits, I grabbed my purse and headed to the bus stop.
I was last to get on and therefore the only spot left was the one that I call “the freezer” spot. It was opposite the door, and each time it opens, a burst of cold air surrounds me. I pulled my coat closed and shoved my hands in my pockets. I relaxed a little because I knew the bus would get me there on time. So instead of worrying about that, my mind went back to last night and Howard.
He says I’m a terrible submissive and that I need discipline. I’m frustrated with myself for not knowing how to please him. He doesn’t give me instructions, and when I ask, he just tells me to figure it out. I’ve been trying to figure it out, but I just seem to continually fail at it.
I was hungry…and just realized that I left my sandwich at home. From the inside of my coat pocket, I pulled out a small bag of M&M’s and stared at it.
Just you and me today.
I nibbled on a few M&M’s and reminded myself to go slow with them since they had to last me the entire day. I folded the bag closed and put the bag back in my pocket as the bus approached my stop. Thankfully, there was a stop right in front of The Everett Building and a handful of people got off here too. I hurried inside and made it to my desk by 7:50 a.m.
Carefully I slid out of my coat and read over the morning memo and then looked over the calendar from James. James was the assistant to Mr. Everett and his partners and each night he sent me a schedule on the calendar for the next day of all the appointments or meetings the three executives had. I committed those to memory before looking over the emails from each of the department heads that let me know if they were expecting any visitors.
A laugh from the coffee shop caused me to look up. Mr. Graves was sitting with Mr. Everett, laughing over something. They were easy on the eyes. Apparently, everyone thought so. Mr. Everett was probably the most handsome man I’ve ever laid eyes on. I’ve been working here for about six months now, and Mr. Everett is still the same kind man I met back in January when I interviewed here. He wasn’t at all fake. There hasn’t been a day where he hasn’t stopped by reception and said good morning to all of us. No other CEO in this building does that, but Mr. Everett does it every day.
Mr. Everett stood, folded his newspaper and placed it between his arm and side, and buttoned his suit jacket. He looked like he stepped off a runway. And he was walking this way with Mr. Graves.
Look busy, Sydney!
I grabbed the memo again and pretended to be reading it when he set his phone down on the counter. All of the women began circling and hurried over.
“Morning, ladies,” Mr. Everett greeted and commented that it was going to be beautiful weather by lunch and that we should enjoy the courtyard. “Morning, Janice and Sydney.” Mr. Everett always gives Janice and I an individualized greeting since we are assigned to his company.
“Good morning, Mr. Everett,” I replied and smiled.
“Have a good day, Sydney,” he said.
He picked his phone up and strode back to Mr. Graves. As the two of them walked toward the elevators, Mr. Graves turned his head and winked at me.
Epilogue Part II
“So, if she were kinky and you had an entire evening with her, what would you do to the fragile kitten?” I asked Colin.
Over the months, Colin and I developed the nickname “fragile kitten” for Sydney in reception. She is a very sweet girl and seems to be a nervous girl. She’s also paper thin, and Colin and I have joked about how we’d shatter the poor girl.
Each morning we come up with some crazy scenario involving Sydney while we have coffee.
“Hmm, what would I do with her? I don’t know,” Colin said.
I let him skate with it even though I knew fair well he had something brewing in his mind. He wants to train her. If he knew this girl was kinky, he’d totally be all over that.
“Can you visualize her kneeling at your feet, Col?” I asked.
“Yessss, yes I can.”
I smirked and picked up my coffee cup.
* * *
“Ok, last night on earth, Col…what are you doing?” I asked as I brought my coffee cup up to my lips.
“I’ll have the little fragile kitten by my side,” he confidently said. “What about you, Anth?”
“I’ll be at Irons, fucking a little sub that is bound in my rope,” I said.
As Colin and I laughed, I noticed how he gazes at her. It’s not in a sexual way, though we joke about it. No, it was always in a concerned way…a protective way.
* * *
“She looks a little under the weather today, doesn’t she?” Colin asked as we sat down with our coffee.
“Who?” I glanced around our immediate surroundings.
“Fragile kitten.”
I looked over at the reception desk and squinted. I had no idea how Colin could tell this far away.
“How do know?”
“The spring in her step is missing today. And she’s bundled up in a sweater, and it’s June.” I looked at Sydney and noticed the sweater. She slowly stood and walked very carefully to the copier. My heart started to pound as I watched her gingerly move behind the reception desk.
I knew that walk.
That’s the walk of someone who was recently hit on the back of their legs with a belt or a strap. Each step makes the skin on the back of your legs stretch, which make it burn and ache. Fabric from pants made it worse.
Yes, I was very familiar with that walk. I knew it well…and I better be dead wrong as to why she’s walking like that.
Peek at Fragile: Everett Gaming Series Book 1
Colin
October 4th could be the most extraordinary day in my company’s history. My company, Everett Gaming, has an important conference call set up with Cheng Hotels International about hiring us for their hotel gaming needs. To say that this is a huge opportunity for Everett Gaming is an understatement. Cheng Hotels has a handful of hotels and casinos in Macau and they are in the process of buying up additional land for future sites. If my company could lock up a deal, it would be amazing.
With my company being in the gaming business, we keep many of our electronic gaming machines in quite a few hotels and taverns here in Las Vegas. To land a contract for a huge international company wasn’t even something I ever thought possible. I had been busting my ass for over a year with my business partners to just get my foot in the door with Cheng’s team. After many trips to Macau, hundreds of email exchanges, and phone calls, I finally have my chance. Cheng's team called about a month ago and said they wanted to seriously talk numbers. We’ve talked many times since then, and they have been happy with what my company is offering.
We had been preparing for this meeting for weeks, and I am confident that we are ready. Everett Gaming has a team that researched Cheng Hotels and the cliental for the area along with their target audience. We had numerous talks with the people from Cheng’s, but today is the actual bid proposal meeting.
I walked through the front doors to our building feeling confident, and I was
eager to get the conference call started. The Everett Building was where my corporate headquarters were at and was situated off the famous Las Vegas Strip. It had ten floors which housed eight businesses with Everett Gaming occupying the ninth and tenth floors. Most of the other businesses were tech or media related.
I built my company from the ground up and did most of the legwork myself. When my parents died, I was left with a sizable inheritance and used it to start my company. I was in my late twenties when I started Everett Gaming and nearly fifteen years later it was finally turning into something very profitable.
The Everett Building had a huge atrium with a full service print shop, coffee and pastry shop, sandwich shop, and a convenience store type of place. The coffee shop, Beans, had seating inside as well as outside in the courtyard. The first floor atrium has an open center and goes all the way up to the tenth floor. Each morning I met my best friend and business partner, Anthony Graves, there. Anthony, the CFO for Everett Gaming, had been with me since shortly after I opened the company.
The atrium had a huge reception area with several people manning the reception desk and oversized leather chairs in the waiting area. Toward the back of the atrium stood a huge wall of rocks with lush palm trees and a cascading waterfall. The building was quite stunning and had won many architectural awards.
Given the importance of the meeting this morning with Cheng Hotels, Anthony and I were bypassing Beans. As I made my way past security, I greeted the ladies in reception and threw a smile over to the most recent addition, Sydney Burke. She smiled nervously as she did every morning and blushed as she looked downward, playing with her fingers. Little submissive, I’d think to myself and continue on.
I liked all of our employees and took a personal interest in making sure that they felt valued and appreciated, especially the ladies in reception. The reception ladies had a tough job, and they deserved some recognition, even if all I can do is greet them and smile each day. Many CEOs for the companies in the building couldn't give a fuck about the women in reception, but I made sure that I greeted them daily. I also made sure to include the two ladies that were assigned to Everett Gaming with all of my company’s functions.